US hopes Pak-India FMs meeting paves way for strong ties

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has welcomed a proposed meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India on the sidelines of U.N. General Assembly this month.

Speaking at a news briefing, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said: “I think that’s terrific news for the Indians and Pakistanis to be able to sit down and have a conversation together.”

She said, “We saw the reports about the positive messages being exchanged between Prime Minister Khan and also Prime Minister Modi, and we hope that the conditions will be set for a good, strong relationship, a good, strong bilateral relationship in the future.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan had written to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, suggesting their foreign ministers meet in New York to try to break an impasse in ties.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said New Delhi had agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Earlier this month, Indian PM Narendra Modi, in his a communique to Prime Minister Imran Khan, had stated that he seeks “meaningful and constructive” engagement between the two neighbours.

In reciprocation, PM Khan wrote to the Indian premier, officially extending the offer to resume peace talks.